Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News
McMurry's Kayla Hines and Kasi Conners block the shot of Hardin-Simmons' Christine Sas during the third game of the War Hawks' win on Wednesday at McMurry's Kimbrell Arena.

Tommy Metthe/Abilene Reporter-News

After nearly two hours of the McMurry War Hawks and Hardin-Simmons Cowgirls slamming away at each other Wednesday, it was a deft touch that decided the issue.

Brandi Barber's dink on match point found the floor, lifting McMurry to a 25-15, 28-30, 18-25, 25-17, 15-13 victory at Kimbrell Arena in a match that decided the American Southwest Conference West Division volleyball title. In what was possibly the final meeting between the teams as conference rivals, McMurry ended HSU's six-match winning streak in the series and beat the Cowgirls for just the second time in the last 16 meetings to claim its third ASC West crown and first since 2002.

"This is what we've been working for all season," said Barber, who finished with seven kills. "Our record's been the best (in school history), but it's required everyone on the team during practice and games to pull this out. It's a great relief to have this one over with."

Both the War Hawks (26-2 overall, 16-2 conference) and HSU (21-5, 15-3) will compete in the ASC postseason tournament, scheduled for Nov. 3-5 at East Division winner Texas-Dallas.

"This was the perfect setup," McMurry coach Cammie Petree said of atmosphere surrounding the match. "It was a great match for both teams and that's what you hope for. You hope each team is going to bring its best and they did. Hardin-Simmons did a great job and I just thank God that my girls dug down deep and had the heart they needed to pull it out.

"I'm proud of Abilene volleyball. I'm excited that when people come to town, they have to face us and they have to face Hardin-Simmons. I'm proud for the city of Abilene, We've got two strong teams going into the tournament next week."

Cowgirls coach Sabrina Bingham said the match was markedly different from the first meeting, a 3-1 HSU victory on Oct. 5.

"The intensity, of course, increases every time we play," she said. "Then what was put on this match had increased as far as first in the West and that kind of thing, so it was a little different. It's not that early match in the year trying to figure each other out.

"They played an excellent game. That was outstanding from McMurry. For us, it gets us prepared on some of our weaknesses and what we have to be working on heading into the tournament. It is a double-elimination tournament this season, so we're looking at playing multiple teams in the same weekend. We've got to prepare for that and this match really helped us to be able to look forward to next week."

M.J. Vickers led McMurry with 16 kills, while Stephanie Henry added 13 and Bailey Marcum had 11 as the War Hawks finished with a .222 attack percentage. Kasi Conners added five kills and seven blocks, setting the school season record for blocks with 157. Lyndsey Llewellyn had 155 in 2003.

"It was hard work on both of our sides," Marcum said. "We were determined to win. It was a great game for them. They really played hard, but so did we.

"It's really big for us. It's going to boost our confidence. We definitely know the teams that are there are obviously there for a reason, so we're going to have to bring our A game."

Madison Reyes had a match-high 20 kills for the Cowgirls with Christine Sas getting 14. Tori Martinez had nine kills and 2½ blocks. Hardin-Simmons finished with an .080 attack percentage, posting negative percentages for the first and fourth games and hitting .000 in the fifth.

McMurry looked to make quick work of the match, cruising through the first set and leading the second 21-17 before HSU rallied.

"Our girls do work hard at coming back in games," Bingham said. "Part of it was our passing game settled in. We were able to start passing well, which means we can split the blockers and get our top hitters putting the ball down. That made all the difference in the world that second game."

The Cowgirls then appeared to have things in hand, taking a 2-1 advantage and serving for the lead at 9-9 in the fourth set. Marcum got the kill to put McMurry ahead and start a 12-1 run to help the War Hawks force a fifth set.

"We turned the lineup so they were against a different group of people," Petree said. "They weren't receiving the ball from the same people, they weren't blocking against the same people and I think that change sparked a little momentum our direction and the girls just responded to it. It's always kind of a risk when you do something different, but this time it paid off."

In the fifth set, HSU went up 5-1 on an ace by Ashley Babineaux, but a kill by Vickers started a 7-0 McMurry run. Tied at 13, Henry knocked down a kill to bring McMurry to match point and Barber's tip over two blockers ended it.

"The adrenaline was running for everyone," Barber said. "I figured they were expecting someone to power the ball for the last point, but if that was working the whole night for me I might as well use it again."